The NCIS New York cast brings together LL Cool J, Scott Caan, Jennifer Beals, Jacqueline Byers, Shane Harper, and Devin Druid for CBS’s newest addition to the NCIS universe. The series officially premiered on October 6, 2026, introducing a New York-based investigative team led by veteran NCIS agent Sam Hanna.
The new drama places the characters in New York City, where the local NCIS office handles cases connected to the U.S. Navy and military personnel. The series gives viewers a new team while retaining an important connection to the wider franchise through LL Cool J’s return as Sam Hanna.
Brian Dietzen also appears in the premiere as Dr. Jimmy Palmer, bringing a familiar face from the flagship NCIS series into the new show.
NCIS: New York Cast and Characters
CBS’s current main lineup features six principal performers. Each character fills a different role within the New York field office.
| Actor | Character | Position |
|---|---|---|
| LL Cool J | Sam Hanna | NCIS Special Agent |
| Scott Caan | Nick Schaeffer | NCIS Special Agent |
| Jennifer Beals | Robyn Wells | Assistant Special Agent in Charge |
| Jacqueline Byers | Addison “Addy” Ross | NCIS Special Agent |
| Shane Harper | Wyatt Sellers | NCIS Special Agent |
| Devin Druid | Sean Sullivan | Tech Specialist |
The ensemble gives the series a combination of experienced investigators, leadership, field agents, and technical expertise.
That balance becomes important from the opening episode because the team must investigate a case involving a Navy reservist while also establishing how Hanna fits into the New York office.
LL Cool J Returns as Sam Hanna
LL Cool J leads the series as Sam Hanna.
The character is already familiar to longtime NCIS viewers. Hanna previously served as one of the central characters in NCIS: Los Angeles, where LL Cool J played him throughout the show’s 14-season run.
His move to New York gives the franchise one of its established characters a new professional setting.
Sam’s connection to New York also makes the relocation personal. He returns to his hometown after years of assignments elsewhere and soon becomes involved in a case involving his longtime friend, Navy reservist Jack Halloway.
The situation pushes Hanna to seek permission from Robyn Wells to investigate the death.
Wells agrees but pairs him with Nick Schaeffer. That decision establishes the show’s central partnership.
Sam brings years of NCIS experience to the new office. His background also gives the series an immediate link to the larger NCIS world without requiring the new characters to rely entirely on established storylines.
LL Cool J is also an executive producer on the series.
His return is one of the biggest reasons longtime viewers have a familiar character to follow while CBS establishes a completely new ensemble around him.
Scott Caan Plays Nick Schaeffer
Scott Caan joins LL Cool J as Special Agent Nick Schaeffer.
Nick becomes Sam Hanna’s partner after Robyn Wells assigns the two agents to work together.
The character has a more unpredictable and roguish personality, creating a natural contrast with Hanna’s experience and approach to investigations.
Schaeffer also serves as an important introduction point for viewers. He helps Hanna meet the other members of the New York team, including Addy Ross, Wyatt Sellers, and Sean Sullivan.
Caan is well known to television audiences for playing Detective Danny Williams on Hawaii Five-0. His addition to the cast gives the series another performer with extensive experience in a long-running procedural drama.
His character’s relationship with Hanna is one of the major elements established at the beginning of the series.
The two agents bring different personalities and professional approaches to the same cases, creating a partnership that sits at the heart of the new team’s field investigations.
Jennifer Beals Is Robyn Wells
Jennifer Beals plays Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells.
Wells oversees the New York NCIS field office and serves as the senior authority figure for the team.
Her position gives her responsibility for managing investigations, assigning agents, and keeping the office focused on its mission.
She also plays a key role in bringing Sam Hanna into the new team.
Hanna cannot simply return to New York and begin investigating the death of his friend on his own. He needs Wells’ approval, and she ultimately agrees to let him work on the case with Schaeffer.
Beals brings decades of film and television experience to the role.
She became widely known after starring in Flashdance and later built a substantial television career, including her role as Bette Porter in The L Word.
Her presence gives Wells the authority expected from the person running an NCIS field office.
At the same time, the character is not simply an administrator. Wells is an important part of the team’s investigative structure and helps determine how the agents approach their cases.
Jacqueline Byers Plays Addison “Addy” Ross
Jacqueline Byers portrays Special Agent Addison “Addy” Ross.
Addy is one of the field investigators assigned to the New York office. She is presented as tough, capable, and determined to establish herself within the team.
Her character brings another perspective to investigations alongside Hanna and Schaeffer.
Addy is introduced as part of the existing New York group when Hanna begins working with the office.
Byers has built a television résumé that includes Dark Winds, Roadies, and Salvation. She also appeared in the film Prey for the Devil.
Her role on NCIS: New York gives her a prominent place in a major network procedural.
Addy’s position as a field agent means she is directly involved in the work rather than remaining in a supporting office role.
Her character is therefore expected to be an important part of the team’s cases as the series moves forward.
Shane Harper Plays Wyatt Sellers
Shane Harper appears as Special Agent Wyatt Sellers.
Wyatt is another field agent within the New York office.
The character is described as fearless and highly capable. He also has a romantic side, creating a contrast between his professional confidence and his personal outlook.
Harper has extensive television experience, including roles in Good Luck Charlie, Awkward, Hightown, A Teacher, and Power Book IV: Force.
His casting adds another recognizable television performer to the ensemble.
Wyatt is part of the group Hanna meets after joining the New York office. His role helps broaden the investigative team beyond the central Hanna-Schaeffer partnership.
The character’s field experience also means he can participate directly in cases involving military personnel, evidence gathering, interviews, and operations.
Devin Druid Plays Sean Sullivan
Devin Druid takes on the role of Sean Sullivan, the New York team’s technology specialist.
Sean stands apart from the other members of the group because his primary strength involves computers and digital information.
The character has a background as a hacker and uses his technical skills to support investigations.
Sean is also portrayed as witty and intelligent, although he does not always respond positively to authority.
That personality gives the character a distinct place within the group.
Druid became widely recognized for playing Tyler Down in Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. He has also appeared in television productions including Olive Kitteridge and Power: Origin.
His role gives NCIS: New York a dedicated technology specialist rather than relying solely on field agents to handle digital evidence.
That is particularly relevant for a modern NCIS team because investigations can involve computers, communications, digital records, and other technology-related evidence.
Brian Dietzen Appears as Jimmy Palmer
Brian Dietzen returns to the NCIS universe as Dr. Jimmy Palmer in the series premiere.
Palmer is one of the longest-running characters on the original NCIS. Dietzen has played the medical examiner since the show’s early seasons.
His appearance in NCIS: New York creates a direct connection between the new series and the flagship program.
For viewers who have followed the franchise for years, Palmer’s presence provides an immediate reminder that the New York office operates within the same larger NCIS world.
His role in the premiere is confirmed as a guest appearance.
He is not part of the six-member main cast currently listed for the New York team.
That distinction is important because the core series lineup consists of Hanna, Schaeffer, Wells, Addy, Wyatt, and Sean.
How Sam Hanna Joins the New York Team
The series premiere introduces the new cast through a case rather than simply presenting character biographies.
Sam Hanna has returned to New York when a personal connection draws him into an investigation.
His friend Jack Halloway, a Navy reservist, is found dead.
Hanna wants to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. He approaches Robyn Wells, who has authority over the New York office.
Wells agrees to let Hanna work on the case but assigns him to Nick Schaeffer.
That pairing creates the central investigative partnership.
Schaeffer then brings Hanna into contact with the other members of the team.
The setup allows the audience to learn about each character while following an active NCIS investigation.
It also establishes that Hanna is not replacing the existing team. Instead, he becomes part of a group that already has its own structure and working relationships.
The New York Office Leadership
Robyn Wells provides the leadership structure for the new team.
Her title, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, places her above the field agents in the office hierarchy.
That makes her decisions important to the direction of investigations.
Wells must balance the needs of the office with the individual strengths and personalities of her agents.
Sam Hanna brings considerable experience, but his personal connection to the premiere case also creates an emotional element.
Wells’ decision to assign him to Schaeffer provides a professional framework for his involvement.
Her character therefore plays an important role in making Hanna’s transition into the New York office believable within the story.
The Field Agents
The New York team includes several agents who work directly on investigations.
Sam Hanna and Nick Schaeffer form the primary partnership, while Addy Ross and Wyatt Sellers add additional field experience.
Each character contributes a different personality to the group.
Hanna is the veteran with extensive NCIS experience.
Schaeffer is the more unconventional partner.
Addy is tough and determined.
Wyatt is fearless and capable.
Together, they provide the team with several investigative perspectives.
Their different personalities also help prevent the office from feeling like a collection of identical procedural characters.
Sean Sullivan’s Technical Role
Sean Sullivan fills a role that differs from the team’s field investigators.
His technical background allows him to assist with computer-related aspects of investigations.
The character’s history as a hacker is particularly relevant to his position.
Sean’s skills give the New York office another way to gather and analyze information.
His personality also adds humor to the group. He is intelligent and witty but has a complicated relationship with authority.
That combination gives Druid a role that is distinct from the show’s traditional field-agent characters.
The Importance of the New York Setting
The location is central to the identity of the series.
The New York NCIS office operates in one of the largest and busiest cities in the United States.
The team’s cases involve the Navy and military personnel, giving the series the familiar investigative foundation associated with NCIS.
At the same time, New York provides a different environment from previous franchise locations.
The city’s major transportation networks, ports, military connections, and large population create the setting for the team’s investigations.
The show therefore uses the location as more than a backdrop.
It establishes the New York office as its own branch with its own personnel, cases, and relationships.
The First Episodes Establish the Ensemble
The premiere introduces Hanna and the other central characters while focusing on the death of Jack Halloway.
The second episode, titled “Family Business,” continues the team’s work.
That episode centers on a jewelry store robbery involving military explosives that turns deadly.
The case gives the ensemble another opportunity to work together after the premiere establishes the team’s basic structure.
For viewers interested in the cast, the early episodes are especially important because they show how the characters operate as a group rather than simply introducing their individual backgrounds.
Where to Watch NCIS: New York
The series airs on CBS on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Episodes are also available through Paramount+.
The show became part of CBS’s current NCIS programming lineup with its October 6, 2026, premiere.
Viewers following the new team can watch the series through its regular CBS broadcast schedule or use Paramount+ for streaming access, depending on their subscription.
What the Current Cast Represents
The ensemble gives the series several recognizable connections to established television franchises while introducing new characters.
LL Cool J supplies the strongest connection to previous NCIS stories through Sam Hanna.
Scott Caan brings experience from another long-running CBS procedural.
Jennifer Beals provides senior leadership as Wells.
Jacqueline Byers and Shane Harper play field agents who help form the investigative core.
Devin Druid adds a younger technical specialist whose skills differ from those of the field investigators.
Brian Dietzen’s appearance as Jimmy Palmer adds another link to the original NCIS.
Together, these performers establish the foundation of the New York office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the main star of NCIS: New York?
LL Cool J leads the series as Special Agent Sam Hanna. He previously played Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles.
Who plays Nick Schaeffer?
Scott Caan plays Special Agent Nick Schaeffer, Sam Hanna’s partner in the New York office.
Who plays Robyn Wells?
Jennifer Beals portrays Assistant Special Agent in Charge Robyn Wells, the senior leader of the New York NCIS office.
Who plays Addy Ross?
Jacqueline Byers plays Special Agent Addison “Addy” Ross.
Who plays Wyatt Sellers?
Shane Harper portrays Special Agent Wyatt Sellers, one of the New York field agents.
Who plays Sean Sullivan?
Devin Druid plays Sean Sullivan, the team’s technology specialist.
Does Jimmy Palmer appear in the new series?
Yes. Brian Dietzen appears as Dr. Jimmy Palmer in the series premiere.
When did NCIS: New York premiere?
The series premiered on CBS on October 6, 2026.
What night is NCIS: New York on CBS?
The series airs Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Is Sam Hanna from NCIS: Los Angeles in the new series?
Yes. LL Cool J reprises his role as Sam Hanna for the New York-based series.
Who leads the New York NCIS office?
Jennifer Beals’ Robyn Wells serves as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the New York field office.
Who is the technology expert on the team?
Devin Druid’s Sean Sullivan serves as the team’s technology specialist and has a background as a hacker.
Final Thoughts
The new CBS drama gives the NCIS franchise a distinct New York team while retaining a familiar connection through Sam Hanna. LL Cool J’s return sits at the center of an ensemble that includes Scott Caan, Jennifer Beals, Jacqueline Byers, Shane Harper, and Devin Druid.
The six principal characters bring different skills and personalities to the field office, while Brian Dietzen’s appearance as Jimmy Palmer connects the new series to the established NCIS world.
For the latest information about the leadership changes surrounding the series and details about the NCIS new director, read our complete update on the new director and what the change means for the franchise.
As the New York team takes on more cases, fans can watch how these characters develop their working relationships and shape the newest chapter of the NCIS franchise.